Tripod



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,644 W. B. WESCOTT TRIPOD original Filed June 2B, 1917 Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES A i ingaan Pafirsrrr orner..

WILLIAM B. WESGOTT,v OFQUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 KALMUS, COM- STOCK & WESCOTT, INC., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

j marron.

Original application filed .Tune 28, 1917, Serial No. 177,518. Divided and this application led September 29, 1922.

This invention relates to adjustable and deniountable supports for cameras, surveying instruments and the like ofthe type known as tripods, this being a division of my copending application, Serial No. .177,- 518, tiled J une 2S, 1917. The objects oi the invention are to provide rigid and convenient adjustable means for supporting various instruments and apparatus to permit the rapid demouiiting of the device but without the liability of the separation ot the parts thereof when the device is merely being adjusted, and in general to improve and simplify devices oi' the class described and to render them more etlicient and satisfactory in service.

The invention comprises the combination ot two supporting members adjustablysecured together, the one having an opening, the other a projection extending through the opening, and a member on the projection maintaining the two members in operative relationship, the member with the opening and one oit' the other members having telescoping parts.

The invention further comprises a tripod comprising a head, a leg for supporting the head, and a member on the head passing through an opening in the leg and provided on its outer end with means retaining the leg in position relative to the head, and interiitting parts on the leg and head to permit angular adjustment thereof. The leg may have a slot extending to the opening therein to permit the attaching and detaching of the leg on and from the member on the head by movement of the leg transversely or radially of the member.

The invention is illustrated in the laccompanying drawing, in which:

Figxl is a plan View of a tripod head embodying the features of the invention` with one of the connections of a leg with the head shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of lFig. 1; and Y l Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the upper end of a tripod leg. Y

The embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprisesapparatus adapted to support a motion picture camera and includes a stationary head (not shown) adapted to be suitably supported, as for example by Vmeans of tripod legs Vthe bi- Seral No. 591,337.

paratus, is either rigidly or adjustably ,a

mounted on the tilting head TH and may be power driven by a suitable connection to a pulley 102. Shaft C is operable to clamp the camera in place in the manner disclosed in my copending application above identi.- Vlied. The head RH is rotated by a suitable crank (not shown) keyed on shaft R and head TH is tilted by rotating shaft T by means oi a suitable handle (not shown).

The preiferred'manner ot attaching the tripod Alegs to the tripod head is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The bearings 1 have longitudinal openings therethrough adapted to receive shafts 111 headed at one end, these shatts extending from the ends of the bearings 1 through openings 129 in the upper ends 112 of the tripod legs, vthe legs being held in position on the shafts 111 by means or' wing-nuts 113 threaded on the outer ends of the shafts 111, a washer 114 being secured to the outer end of each shaft by screws 116 to prevent the accidental removal ot the wing-nuts 113. Inasmuch as the bearings 1' andthe wing-nuts 113 are preferablyniade of cast material, bearin plates 117 and 118 are preferably provided between the tripod legs 112 and the bearings 1 and wing-nuts or headed shaft ends respectively, thebearing plates 117 and 118. being secured in place bv means of screws 119 threaded into openings 121 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Y

Spherical enlargements 122 are provided on opposite sides of the ends 4112 of the tripod legs surrounding the openings 129 for vthe shafts 111, these spherical enlargements litting into spherical recesses or concavities in the bea-ring plates 117 and 118. Extending between the shaft openings 129 and the upper ends of each ot the tripod legsis a slot 13,0 (Fig. 3) so that the tripod legs can An important advantage afforded by thev described ball Aand socketr type` of bearing is that, by virtue of the axial telescopin'g portions of the bearing, the t-ipod legs mav readily be maintained in positiony on the shafts 111 Without clamping them very tightly against the bearings 1 by meansof the Wing-nuts 118 so that'they are readily adjusted a-boutpthe axesol the shafts 111 Without any liability of the legs dropping away from the Vtripod head. To detach the tripodl legs when the tripod` is to be taken apart it is only necessary to krloosen Wingl nuts 113 to a point adjacent washers 1141 and then give a pull on the legs in` a direetion radial o1 shafts 111. to spring theenlagements 122 on the ends 112 of the legs out of the concavities inthe-bearing Washers 117 and 118,` thev shafts 111 sliding out of the openings 129 in the leg ends through slots-130- The legs are as readily mounted on the head by reversing this procedure.

The spherical Vform ofthe enlargements 122 and ofV the cooperating recesses in the bearing plates 117 and 118fis likewise of importance in permitting the parts to readily adapt themselves to varied conditions of adjustment produced When the length of the vtripod legs is Changed therebyehanging the angle between the bi-'furcated -ends of 'thev tripodJ legs and the shaftsv 111. Smoothness and ease of 4accomm'odation to adgustment about Lthe shafts 111 as Well as kangularly rela-tive theretoare possible only by the spherical form of the cooperating parts. i

A lA claim: Y

.flrfipod apparatus comprising a head, a

leg tor supporting the head, said leg having a biiurcated end, a shaft on said head having threadedfend projecting through said bifurcation in the leg, a nut on they shaft to clamp the leg against the head, circular enlargements on said leg adjacent the biiurcation. thereinV cooperating with complemental WILLIAM B. Wnsoofr'r. 

